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One Piece Emperor's crews are led by a pirate captain known as an Emperor, or Yonko, one of the strongest pirates in the world. These pirates rule the New World and control huge territories, crews, and influence. However, though each Emperor is powerful, the size of their crews can vary a lot.
Some prefer small groups of trusted allies, while others rule massive pirate armies. This article ranks every One Piece Emperor's direct crew from the smallest to the largest based on the crew size. This includes all the Emperors, past and present.
Every One Piece Emperor's crew, ranked
1. Shanks (Red Hair Pirates) — 10 members
The smallest One Piece Emperor's crew belongs to Shanks. The Red Hair Pirates have only 10 members. Shanks does not rely on a huge crew but instead leads a tight group of elite fighters who trust each other completely. Sengoku has once said that his crew is the most balanced out there.
Every member of the Red Hair Pirates is strong and experienced. Their strength was respectable enough for the Navy, that they stopped fighting with the Whitebeard Pirates when he arrived at Marineford.
The second-in-command of the Red Hair Pirates is Benn Beckman. He is smart and very strong. It was he who took Eustass Kid’s hand when he wanted to attack the Red Hair Pirates. Special mention in Shanks’ crew is Uta, Shanks' daughter, who appeared in One Piece Film: Red. Although not officially part of the One Piece Emperor's crew, she holds a special connection with them.
2. Buggy (Cross Guild) —10 members
Next on the list of One Piece Emperor's crew is a group led by Buggy. Buggy’s rise to Emperor status came largely from misunderstandings and the strong partners who joined him, rather than his personal strength. The core of the Cross Guild includes 10 members.
These 10 include members of Buggy’s former crew and Baroque Works, Crocodile’s former crew. The true second-in-command in the Cross Guild is not clear-cut. But he has two persons who stand above others in the crew — Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk. Both of them are former Warlords of the Sea and are powerful.
Mihawk’s strength is unmatched, and many believe he is stronger than most Yonko. Crocodile, on the other hand, leads much of the organization's serious business, while Buggy acts more as a figurehead. Mihawk and Crocodile are the ones who make the Cross Guild strong.
3. Luffy (Straw Hat Pirates) —10 members
Thirdly, on the list of One Piece Emperor's crews, we have Monkey D. Luffy. The Straw Hat Pirates have 10 members. Unlike some other Emperors, Luffy values friendship above power. Everybody brings something to the party, and they’re family. Luffy did not go around looking to recruit strong people as his crew; it was only people who were interesting that he offered a place.
Some of them are not strong, but they all love each other. Straw Hat's vice-captain is Roronoa Zoro, who is also the crew's swordsman and Luffy’s right hand. In the entire crew, Zoro was the first person recruited by Luffy. He handles serious battles and helps lead the crew when Luffy is not present.
Vivi, the princess of Alabasta, is also connected to the Straw Hats. She traveled with them during the Alabasta arc and became like a member of this One Piece Emperor's crew. While not sailing with them now, Vivi remains a close friend and ally of the crew.
4. Blackbeard (Blackbeard Pirates) — 11 members
The next One Piece Emperor's crew is Blackbeard’s crew. Blackbeard’s main crew has 11 powerful members, each leading their own unit as Titanic Captains. Some of these pirates were recruited from Impel Down and are known for their cruelty and strength.
The crew comprises powerful and dangerous characters. From early members like Lafitte to later members like Kuzan and Catarina Devon, every one of the Ten Titanic Captains is a powerhouse in their own right. While there is no direct second-in-command of the Blackbeard Pirates, Jesus Burgess is the Captain of the First Ship among the Ten Titanic Captains.
The Blackbeard Pirates continue to expand their power by hunting strong Devil Fruit users and stealing their abilities. Shiryu of the Rain got his Clear-Clear fruit from Absalom, one of Gecko Moria’s underlings. Like some other Emperors on this list, they use the Pirate Island, also known as Hachinosu, as their base.
5. Whitebeard (Whitebeard Pirates) — 17 members
One of the most iconic One Piece Emperor's crews was Whitebeard’s crew. As a Yonko, Whitebeard was highly respected and powerful. The main crew had 16 division commanders. Each commander led their unit, forming a strong and united fleet.
The second-in-command was Marco the Phoenix. Marco’s Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit allowed him to heal himself and others, making him an essential leader during battles. Marco managed the crew in Whitebeard’s absence and played a major role in many important fights during and after his death.
Other members include the 19 former Spade Pirates who joined when their captain, Portgas D. Ace, joined the Whitebeard Pirates. Special members once part of Whitebeard’s crew include Kozuki Oden, Kozuki Toki, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and even Marshall D. Teach, who later betrayed Whitebeard to form his crew.
6. Big Mom (Big Mom Pirates) — 81 members
Big Mom has one of the largest One Piece Emperor's crews in the series. The Big Mom Pirates consisted of her many children, totaling 81 members. After the captain, the crew has four Sweet Commanders who stand above the rest. Beneath them are Officers and Combatants.
Most of her crew members are her children and are quite powerful. Second in command of the Big Mom Pirates is her son, Charlotte Katakuri. Katakuri’s advanced use of Observation Haki, which allows him to see a bit into the future, is a terrifying ability. Special members tied to Big Mom’s crew include Pekoms and Capone Gang Bege.
Bege married into the Charlotte family and led his group under Big Mom's flag for a time. Pekoms, on the other hand, betrayed the crew to help Luffy and his crew escape Whole Cake Island.
7. Kaido (Beast Pirates) — 87 members
For the longest time, the Beasts Pirates were one of the strongest pirate groups in the world. They made base at Wano, specifically Onigashima. Kaido's Beasts Pirates were made up of 87 main members. His forces were well-structured with:
- 3 All-Stars (Jack, Queen, King)
- 6 Tobiroppo (Flying Six)
- 20 Shinuchi
- 38 Gifters
- 9 Waiters
- 10 Numbers (giant ancient warriors)
The second-in-command of Kaido’s crew was King the Wildfire. As a Lunarian, King had plenty of abilities. King was strong, could fly, and could use fire. However, he lost when he fought Zoro from the Straw Hat Pirates. He was very loyal to Kaido and was one of the most feared fighters in Wano.
When the crew was at Wano, they ruled the place alongside Orochi Korozumi. In that time, Kaido had 16 Samurai and Ninjas from Wano who supported his rule, making his military power even greater.
Ranking Summary of the One Piece Emperor's Crew:
- Shanks (10 members, Special: Uta)
- Buggy (10 members)
- Luffy (10 members, Special: Vivi)
- Blackbeard (11 members)
- Whitebeard (17 members, Special: Spade Pirates, Oden, others)
- Big Mom (81 members, Special: Pekoms, Bege)
- Kaido (87 members, Special: Samurai and Ninjas)
Conclusion
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One Piece Emperor's crew sizes reflect each leader's approach to power. Shanks and Luffy value small, trusted groups. Buggy, though weak personally, rose thanks to powerful allies like Mihawk and Crocodile. Blackbeard carefully collects dangerous individuals to strengthen his ranks. Whitebeard built a loyal family of pirates and allies who respected him deeply. Big Mom created an empire with her children as the core of her army. Kaido ruled through pure military strength, creating a massive army of artificial Devil Fruit users.
Each One Piece Emperor's crew tells us something about who they are, how they rule, and what kind of pirate they wish to be.
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